Childcare Benefit Program

• The AmeriCorps member's family household income (includes income of the member and either their spouse or the children's other parent/guardian within the same household) must not exceed 75 percent of the state's median income for a family of the same size; this median income is different for each state and may change annually. The total family income is used to determine your income eligibility and it excludes your AmeriCorps State and National living allowance.
• The member must not currently receive a childcare subsidy from another source at the time of acceptance into the program (including a parent or guardian), which would continue to be provided while the member serves in the program.
• The member must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under the age 13.
• The child must reside with the member.
• The childcare benefit is only available to members that are enrolled in FT slots (1700 hours). The benefit is not available to members serving full time in the following slot types: three quarter time (TQT), half time (HT), reduced half time (RHT), quarter time (QT), minimum time (MT), and abbreviated-time (AT) slots. Members serving in the Professional Corps program are not eligible for the childcare benefit.
• The member must certify that they need childcare in order to participate in the program.

• The member's family household income (includes income of the member and either their spouse or the children's other parent/guardian within the same household) must not exceed 75 percent of the state's median income for a family of the same size; this median income limit is different for each state and may change annually. The total household income is used to determine your income eligibility excluding your AmeriCorps living allowance.
• The member must not currently receive a childcare subsidy from another source at the time of acceptance into the program (including a parent or guardian), which would continue to be provided while the member serves in the program.
• The member must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under the age 13.
• The child must reside with the member.
• The member must certify that they need childcare in order to participate in the AmeriCorps VISTA program.

• The member must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 13.
• The child may not be physically living with the member (as AmeriCorps NCCC is a residential service program and the member will be living at one of the AmeriCorps NCCC campuses).
• The guardian or family member with whom the child is living must be either: (1) the childcare provider or (2) the party responsible for selecting a childcare provider for the eligible child.
  • The identified childcare provider may not be the child's biological, step, or adoptive parent or an adult sibling if they live in the same household.
• The benefit is $400 per month per child, or the rate charged by the childcare provider, whichever is the lesser amount.
• The member must certify that they need childcare in order to participate in the program.

• Providers must be at least 18 years of age
• The provider may not be:
  1. the child's biological, step, or adoptive parent;
  2. the child's legal guardian or the spouse of the legal guardian;
  3. an adult acting in loco parentis, or the spouse of an adult acting in place of the parent; or
  4. the child's sibling if living in the same household.

Depending on the state in which the care is being provided, other blood relatives (factoring in exclusions listed above) may be used.

• Application - a completed and signed AmeriCorps Member Childcare Benefits Application.
• AmeriCorps Program Certification of Active Service Form - must be completed by AmeriCorps program supervisor. This form verifies the service assignment information.
• A copy of a birth certificate for each child under 13 who needs childcare services.
• Legal Custody Documentation - if the member is not the biological parent of the child who needs childcare services, the member must submit proof to show parental or guardian status, including legal guardianship, adoptive parent, foster parent, or stepparent.
• Income and Tax Documentation - official documentation to verify total salaries and wages for family adult members of the household, including four weeks of the most recent paycheck stubs, and a copy of the most recent federal income tax return.
• Other Income - family household members must provide proof of all other household income including child support, Supplemental Security Income or other disability income, retirement income, social security benefits, unemployment benefits, alimony, veteran benefits, workers compensation benefits, Aid to Families with Dependent Children and FDC and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Additional documentation may be required for any other source of household income in accordance with the Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant program guidelines for the state or territory where the childcare services are provided.
• Please review the 'Member Checklist' on the GAP Solutions, Inc., website for detailed instructions.

• Application - each childcare provider must complete and sign an AmeriCorps Childcare Provider Application.
• Taxpayer and Business Documentation - documentation includes the provider social security number or tax identification number and completed Internal Revenue Service W-9 form.
• Certifications - copy of the current childcare provider license for each childcare provider, or proof that they are licensed, regulated, or in compliance with the state or territory guidelines for an eligible childcare provider under the Child Care Development Fund Block Grant program.
• Provider billing rates.
• A completed Electronic Deposit Form is required for those enrolling in electronic deposit payments.
• Please see the 'Provider Checklist' on the GAP Solutions, Inc., website for detailed application instructions.